Nanjing Zijin Hospital is a specialized medical institution dedicated to the research, treatment, and rehabilitation of conditions arising from cerebral resuscitation, spinal cord injury, and various ischemic‑hypoxic disorders. As a hospital renowned for its expertise in critical care rehabilitation, the Nursing Department at Nanjing Zijin Hospital shoulders nursing responsibilities that are more demanding than those of typical departments. Guided by the principles of utmost sincerity and benevolence, the hospital’s nursing staff consistently applies professional expertise to address complex challenges and extends compassionate care to patients, earning widespread acclaim from both patients and their families.
 

PDCA, quality control circles, the “Five Constants” method… These tertiary hospital management approaches enhance nursing quality.
Nanjing Zijin Hospital is a secondary-level rehabilitation hospital that primarily admits critically ill patients transferred from the ICUs of tertiary hospitals. These patients often include those post‑operative from severe traumatic brain injury, as well as individuals with orthopedic conditions and spinal cord injuries. At Nanjing Zijin Hospital, many patients are either in a coma or in a vegetative state; most have undergone tracheostomy and are unable to care for themselves, resulting in a heavy nursing workload and high expectations from their families.
How can we provide high-quality nursing care to patients? First and foremost, it requires a robust institutional framework. Since 2014, the Nursing Department has adopted the management model of tertiary hospitals for secondary‑level hospitals, gradually standardizing nursing practices. This includes implementing the “PDCA cycle”—planning, execution, inspection, continuous improvement, and ongoing adjustments to refine plans—alongside quality‑control circles, where teams collaborate and pool ideas to address various issues and challenges. Additionally, the “5S methodology”—regular organization, tidiness, cleanliness, standardization, and self-discipline—has been employed to enhance environmental management. Other initiatives include scenario‑based nursing rounds and nursing management salons. For many years, the Nursing Department at Zijin Hospital has maintained a quality‑control team, further elevating nursing standards and boosting patient and family satisfaction in line with the tertiary‑hospital model. In 2020, the Nursing Department of Nanjing Zijin Hospital was honored as a “Nanjing March 8th Red Banner Collective,” earning recognition from relevant government authorities.
 
Distinctive specialty: Nursing support for hyperbaric oxygen therapy and rehabilitation.
Nanjing Zijin Hospital currently operates two campuses, one in Nanjing’s Qinhuai District and the other in Jiangning District, with a total of over 300 designed beds. It features two intensive care units totaling nearly 30 beds, as well as two large-capacity hyperbaric chambers and five single-person oxygen chambers. As a specialized hospital for critical care rehabilitation, its hallmark services include awakening patients in a vegetative state and providing hyperbaric oxygen therapy—achievements that are underpinned by the expertise and dedicated efforts of Zijin’s nursing staff.
Each year, Nanjing Zijin Hospital treats the highest number of patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the entire province. When patients enter the chamber for treatment, nurses must also accompany them inside. On their first visit, it’s easy to feel the effects of the pressure changes—ear pain is common—and nurses alleviate this discomfort by repeatedly “empty chewing.” While managing their own physical challenges, they must also keenly monitor even the slightest signs in patients: numbness in the hands due to poor circulation, prompting finger‑flexion and extension exercises; or emotional fluctuations, requiring timely reassurance. Through expert treatment and meticulous care, seeing patients regain consciousness is what brings the greatest joy to the nurses here.
Due to the high number of bedridden patients, pressure ulcers pose a serious threat to patient health. At Nanjing Zijin Hospital, the nursing department is responsible for both the prevention and management of pressure ulcers, integrating the principles of holistic nursing throughout all aspects of ulcer care. Prior to treatment, nurses thoroughly review the patient’s medical history, conduct meticulous assessments, and develop individualized dressing‑change plans. They also provide education to family members and offer detailed guidance on dietary management. Over time, Nanjing Zijin Hospital has earned a strong reputation for its pressure‑ulcer care; patients with such conditions from other hospitals seek it out specifically. Moreover, the hospital’s approach has been recognized by physicians at other tertiary‑level hospitals in Nanjing and has been recommended as a standard treatment option for pressure‑ulcer patients.
 
We closely monitor even the slightest changes in our patients, using expertise and compassion to help them rebuild a vibrant, colorful life.
At Nanjing Zijin Hospital, more than 30% of patients are in a comatose state or a vegetative state, and many others are unable to clearly articulate their pain and needs. This necessitates that nurses approach their daily work with even greater meticulousness, relying on their expertise to address challenges and on their compassion to comfort patients.
A patient with a cerebral hemorrhage was in a comatose state. With no response whatsoever, the nurse noticed a weak pulse; upon re‑examination, she observed a rapid deterioration in the patient’s condition. A race‑against‑time rescue effort ensued—cardiopulmonary resuscitation, intravenous medication administration—and ultimately, the patient’s life was saved. Another patient suddenly collapsed, foaming at the mouth, with limb convulsions and clenched jaws. Without time for further explanation, the nurse knelt down, placed the patient in a supine position, loosened the collar, cleared airway secretions, turned the head to one side, and used a tongue depressor to keep the mouth open, preventing the patient from biting their tongue. Gradually, the patient regained breathing and a heartbeat, slowly recovering. A child admitted with viral meningitis presented with clouded consciousness, generalized rigidity, and complete immobility. The family faced extreme financial hardship; the grandfather caring for the child even skipped meals. The nurse arranged for boxed lunches from the hospital cafeteria, providing them free of charge for four to five months, and also helped the grandfather raise funds for hospitalization through online platforms—support that continued until the child was discharged. On the front lines of fighting COVID‑19 and during routine pandemic prevention and control, many more nurses chose to remain at their posts, applying their most professional nursing expertise with the utmost care and attention.
A dedicated work ethic, safeguarding patient safety…

There are many such examples. “Sincerity and excellence, benevolence and far-reaching vision” is the motto of Nanjing Zijin Hospital. On the journey of exploring the unknown aspects of life and rebuilding a vibrant future for patients, the Nursing Department of Nanjing Zijin Hospital has consistently been striving toward… Front!